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Objectives of This Talk Define a “rhetorical approach” to STEM reading and writing Describe the usefulness of this approach to achieving cultural and linguistic inclusiveness in STEM writing/reading Describe a long-standing science writing program that uses this approach in an inclusive environment Describe how a particular instructor enacts this program, with an emphasis on continuous formative assessment

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A Rhetorical Approach to STEM Reading/Writing Relies on tradition in science communication studies of analyzing (1) the argumentative structure of scientific articles and (2) differences in scientific writing for specialist and non-specialist readers (e.g., Bazerman, LaTour/Woolgar, Myers, Perrault) Focuses on analyzing purposes, audiences, genres, style, and graphics in science documents In teaching writers and readers of science, actively rejects the myth that the “data speak for themselves”

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Usefulness of this approach to achieve cultural and linguistic inclusiveness in STEM By teaching students to see the rhetorical features of STEM writing, the approach helps all students see what science communication shares with all other types of communication, and how it differs. Recent attention in writing-in-disciplines research (e.g., Leki, Zawacki and Cox, Kruse, Wu, Hirsch) to the needs of English language learners shows importance of rhetorically-aware teaching. “Rhetorically-aware” STEM teaching includes meaningful reading/writing assignments and feedback on content and argument, not just on perceived language errors.

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UC Davis UWP 104E: Writing in the Professions--Science One of 20+ upper-level (jr-sr) courses in the University Writing Program taken to fulfill the upper-level writing requirement for all students One of 7 such courses popular with STEM majors (writing in biosciences, writing in health professions, writing in engineering, technical writing are among the other courses) information/writing-in-the-disciplines (Taken by 2000 students per year.)http://writing.ucdavis.edu/course- information/writing-in-the-disciplines

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UWP 104E: Writing in the Professions-- Science From course objectives: To introduce students to the rhetorical principles underlying…the major genres of scientific writing To teach students the rhetorical principles underlying effective scientific style information/course-descriptions-1/uwp104e

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Goals for the Heuristic Help science majors become more savvy, reflective readers of any kind of science-related document: print, online, multimedia Help science majors become more strategic, versatile, and impactful writers of science documents to diverse readers Help science majors become more savvy, articulate consumers and producers of science

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“Scaffolded” Science Writing Assignments 1. Writing and Science: Your History 2. Team Research Review (developed in stages throughout course) 3. Comparative Document Analysis 4. Popular Science Project (multimodal) 5. Oral/Visual Presentation of Team Research Review Assignments 2, 3, and 4 are all developed in stages based on the heuristic: proposal, first draft, peer review, revised draft (with “change memo”).

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Sample Assignment Based on the Heuristic: Comparative Document Analysis “Compare three articles (on the same specific topic of your choice). One should be from a peer-reviewed journal, another from a popular news publication, a third from a science blog or government report” “Using the heuristic, identify the purposes and audiences for each article.” “How do the writers of these articles use (1) types of evidence (2) order of information (3) tone and style, and (4) graphic elements to achieve their purposes for their target audiences?”

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Comparative Document Analysis: Sample Topics (Spring 2014) Retrotransposons as a source of genetic variations among cells Conservation of gorillas in the wild and in captivity Curing osteoarthritis through regeneration of chondrocytes Epigenetic stress in offspring based on the stress of the parents Use of epigenetics in cancer therapy Effects of rodent maternal behavior on the glucocorticoid receptors of offspring Effects of ecotourism on wildlife Relationship between telomere length and cellular aging